Craft beer company wins top Northern Ireland business award

Ireland Craft Beers, a small business exporting craft beers and spirits from producers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, won the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award 2018 in a major business event in Belfast.

The company, which is based in Belfast, was formed in 2014 and last year secured business in Lebanon for craft beers, ciders and spirits from the island. This was the first export business won by many of the businesses in a consignment won, consolidated and shipped by Ireland Craft Beers (ICB).

ICB also pioneered the development of Downstream, the world's fully traceable beer, last year. The beer was produced by Mourne Mountains Craft Brewery in Warrenpoint, county Down for ICB.

The company gained the prestigious award in this year's Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards.

Two other local food and drink companies were also successful in the annual awards. Suki Tea, a boutique tea blender in Belfast, was highly commended in Managing Talent in a Small Business Category.

Butchery Excellence Ireland, which is based at Aughnacloy in county Tyrone, was highly commended in the Team of the Year category for its outstanding achievements in supporting the development of the butchery industry. The company also hosted the hugely successful World Butchery Challenge in Belfast in March.

The awards were presented at a gala dinner attended by over 600 people from business, education and the voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland.

The awards celebrate the achievements of companies and organisations which invest in people skills.

Irish News marketing manager John Brolly said: "We congratulate everyone who took part in our awards, as they have clearly recognised the importance of focusing their organisational strategy on their key asset - people.

"It is people who drive and add value to any organisation. The awards are a celebration of the exceptional standards they demonstrate in different aspects of economy - from education into the workplace."

Picture: Liam Brogan of Ireland Craft Beers.